There were ten of
them, resembling wolves both in size and appearance, each being fastened
to the sledge by a single independent line. The vehicle itself was
Okiok's hunting-sledge, having spears, bow and arrows, lines, bladders,
etcetera, attached to it, so that, although there were no provisions on
it except one small seal, which its owner had probably thought was not
worth removing, the wizard knew that he possessed all the requisites for
procuring a supply. The women, being also well aware of this, were
filled with anxiety, for their one hope of rescue lay in their friends
discovering their flight and engaging in instant and hot pursuit.

Never since the commencement of his career had Ujarak displayed such
anxiety to increase the distance between himself and his tribe. Never
since that long-lashed, short-handled, heavy whip was made, had it given
forth such a rapid series of pistol-like reports, and never since they
were pups had those ten lanky wolfish dogs stretched out their long legs
and scampered over the Arctic sea as they did on that occasion. The old
ice was still sufficiently firm and smooth to afford a good road, and
the new ice was fortunately strong enough to bear, for the pace was
tremendous. With "the world before him where to choose," and death, as
he imagined, on the track behind, the wizard's spirit had risen to the
point of "neck or nothing." Mile after mile was passed at highest speed
and in perfect silence, except when broken by the crack of whip and yelp
of dogs. Occasional roughnesses in the way were crashed over. Small
obstructions were taken in flying leaps, which rendered it necessary for
the poor women to cling to each other, to the sledge, and to the
children, to prevent their being hurled off. Once or twice a hummock
which it seemed possible to leap turned out to be too high, and obliged
the driver to turn aside with such violence that the sledge went for a
few seconds on one runner, and all but turned over. This at last
induced some degree of caution, for to break the vehicle at the
beginning of the journey would have been almost certainly fatal to the
enterprise.

And oh! how earnestly Nunaga longed for a spill! In her despair, poor
thing, it did not occur to her that at such a pace an upset might break
the necks of the whole party.

Towards sunset they rounded a high cape, beyond which was a deep and
wide bay. On this the sun shone apparently on what appeared to be open